Best and Worst Cruise Ship Cabins

Find out which are the best and worst cruise ship cabins (and which to avoid at all costs!)

If you are taking a cruise for the first time, you may not realize how important it is to choose the right cruise ship cabin. The cabin you choose will set the whole tone for your cruise vacation. When we combined our knowledge at CruiseExperts.com to come up with a list of the best and worst cruise ship cabins, we realized it really depends on your particular preferences. With that in mind, we decided that giving you a look at some of the features we loved or hated when we stayed in each cabin type would make it easier for you to find the cabin that best meets your needs.

Best and worst cruise ship cabins

Inside cabins are the best cabins for travelers on a budget and light sleepers. They are the most affordable cabins on a cruise, with basic accommodations and no windows. If you want to save money and intend to use your room to just sleep, wash, and dress, an inside cabin may be the best cruise cabin for you. You might be concerned that they will make you feel claustrophobic or locked in, but some of us actually found them less confining than an oceanview cabin that makes it apparent you are on a ship. Oceanview cabins are similar in size to inside cabins, with a window that doesn’t open but can still give you a look at a gorgeous sunrise or sunset as you cruise.

Balcony or verandah cabins are the best cabins if you are taking a cruise that focuses on scenery, such as Canada and New England fall foliage cruises and Alaskan cruises. While these cabins are generally pricier, many will tell you the view and fresh air are worth it. When you book through CruiseExperts.com, you can take advantage of exclusive upgrades and our Price Advantage Alert Deals, with prices lower than if you booked direct so balcony cabins are a bit more affordable.

If you are wondering, “Where is the best place to stay on a cruise ship,” the answer is definitely in a stateroom cabin or suite! Stateroom cabins are spacious, featuring separate living areas, heavenly amenities, and tons of room. Cruise lines tend to go all out for their suite passengers, so if you have the money to spend, this is the way to go. We found that the cutting-edge features, technologies, and services that are offered in suites made our cruise vacation a dream come true.

Cruise ship cabins to avoid

First time cruisers sometimes make the mistake of not choosing the placement of the cabin. After going on several cruises, we have learned there are certain cruise ship cabins to avoid if you want to enjoy your trip:

Suffer from seasickness? Avoid cabins on upper decks, and ones on the very front or back of the ship. Choose a cabin on the lower decks instead.

Privacy lovers should avoid inside view balcony cabins and oceanview cabins that look onto the promenade decks, as other passengers will be able to look right into your room! Balcony cabins located aft or forward are your best choice, as they overlook the water (we also found they were a bit bigger than other balcony cabins). Penthouse or upper deck suites rise above other passengers’ view to give the most privacy-minded cruisers peace of mind.

If you have mobility issues, avoid cabins on the front or rear of the ship because you will have to travel far for everything. Elevators are typically located mid-ship.

Certain cruise ship cabins tend to be excessively noisy. If you turn in early, avoid cruise ship cabins located near or below bars, nightclubs, and other entertainment areas. We found that cabins adjacent to service areas, laundry rooms, and stairs are the worst, because they tend to be noisy day and night. These cabins should always be avoided. The best places to stay on a cruise ship if you enjoy quiet is on a deck located between two passenger decks, or on the upper decks.

Guarantee (GTY) staterooms or cabins only let you choose the type of cabin, not the placement on the ship. If all you want is the lowest possible price, these are the best cabins. You forfeit your right to complain or request a move, so if you need to stay away from noisy cabins, prefer a good view, or want to stay in a particular location on the ship, you should avoid these cabins.

If you would like help finding the best cruise ship cabin for your next adventure, call CruiseExperts.com today at 1-888-804-CRUISE (2784). We will give you the skinny on the best and worst cruise ship cabins for your selected ship and destination, and help you find the cabin that offers the right combination of price, location, and features to ensure you have the cruise vacation of your dreams! Don’t forget to like us on Facebook and join our InnerCircle for exclusive offers and cruise news you can use. Also, check out our new Resource Center, where you can receive expert knowledge from us before your next cruise or cruisetour!

Our team of cruise consultants and support staff, based in Central California, counts nearly a century of combined talent, knowledge, and enthusiasm in the travel industry. We're not just another internet upstart; our seasoned team has gained the trust and business of thousands of satisfied cruise and land vacation customers from all over the country since 1995. We ARE the original Cruise Experts.